DA plans avian influenza fund from gamefowl revenues
By AMY R. REMO
Philippine Daily Inquirer (September 17, 2007)

         THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is considering the posibility of setting up an Avian Influenza defense fund from poultry gaming revenues.         

         Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said on Friday that the DA was looking into the idea of tapping the P50-bfllion gamefowl subsector as a possible source of funds to combat the dreaded bird flu.

         DA is already in talks with the National Federation of Gamefowl Breed­ers to put the proposal into action.

         The AI defense fund will be used to further strengthen efforts of the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry to keep the country free from bird flu.

         With the country as the only bird flu-free country in Southeast Asia, Yap said local poultry raisers and growers were in a position to expand their ex­port markets.

         Yap explained that Singapore and Brunei could not be considered free of the dreaded Avian Influenza, because they do not have poultry industries to speak of.

         Gamefowl breeders, along with the whole poultry sector, would di­rectly benefit from the AI funds, which would be used for various pro­grams such as disease containment and prevention and corn production.

         Currently, the DA is setting up three more AI diagnostic laboratories in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Zamboanga.

         These additional laboratories, once completed, will complement the ongoing work being done at the Regional Avian Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory in Pampanga, the country's first diagnostic facility that can promptly detect the AI virus.

         As for corn, the DA is banking on die quick turnaround planting pro­gram to help increase pro­duction yields and lower die cost of poultry feed.

         Corn is a major ingredient in animal feeds.

         Yap said he had ordered the BAI and Livestock Devel­opment Council to look into drafting a compensation and insurance program, which can be an incentive for raisers and producers who would voluntarily report any outbreaks.

         The insurance can also be used for poultry farms that will be hit by any disease or virus.

         Yap added the DA sought partnerships with local governments for the detection of any disease outbreak.